City: Laos
Top Things to do in Laos
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What to do and see in Laos, Laos: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas
Coordinates: 18°N 105°E / 18°N 105°E / 18; 105
Restaurants in Laos
1. Elephant Conservation Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 487 reviews
The Elephant Conservation Center marks a new era for conservation of the Asian elephant within the Lao PDR and offers a unique experience to visitors wishing to contribute towards the preservation of an endangered species. The first of its kind in Laos, the Center is not another elephant camp but an innovative approach that combines conservation of an endangered species with eco-tourism. Minimum stay is overnight, however we recommend our 2 nights package to experience all the activities and truly enjoy this tranquil part of the world. Volunteer experiences, 6 nights/7 days are also available. Now we have our own minivan departing Luang Prabang daily at 8am and it takes you back the following day or days arriving Luang Prabang 4.30pm. It is only a 2 hour journey from Luang Prabang, Laos' UNESCO World Heritage listed town.
Reviewed By bj373 - Rio Verde, United States
We volunteered for a week at the Elephant Conservation Center in Sayaboury. Observing the Asian elephants who have been rescued and live in over 500 hectares of forest, along with the education provided by ECC staff, gave us the opportunity to learn so much about Asian elephants. We saw first-hand their intelligence, varied personalities and preferences, and, what was for some of them, their first opportunity to live like the amazing animals they are. This is not a tourist attraction--it is first and foremost a sanctuary, nursery, and care facility for animals that have been pressed into service and/or abused in their lives prior to arrival here at ECC. Visitors are privileged to spend time here--and have fun doing it!
2. Mekong Elephant Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 142 reviews
An Elephant Conservation Sanctuary in Pakbeng . Halfway between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai/Chiang Khong, the main border crossing into northern Laos, the Mekong Elephant Park sits on the banks of the Mekong, opposite the village of Pakbeng. Aim and commitment: The Mekong Elephant Park wishes to encourage travellers to raise awareness and to support the protection of the Asian elephants. Project: Designed as a pilot project for the ecotourism industry, the Mekong Elephant Park wishes to promote sustainable tourism. This project combines: - An environmental purpose: preserving a threatened species - An economic and social ambition: suggesting alternatives for the mahouts and their families; - A touristic aim conceived and planned in order to respect the two aspects above.
Reviewed By KeriBen
Firstly, I would like to say that we did a lot of research before choosing to come to Mekong Elephant Park. There are many other places in Laos where the elephants are not treated well (don't go anywhere where you can have rides) as well as caring about the local community. The Mekong Elephant Park is the opposite of those places. The four elephants have all been rescued from the logging industry often living solitary lives which is extremely psychologically damaging for these intelligent and social creatures. At the park they are well looked after and the females all live together in natural surroundings. The other thing that stood out about this place was the respect for the mahouts (elephant handlers) who have spent most of their lives with these particular elephants. Here they are able to continue to look after their elephants and live with them while being fully respected by the other staff for their knowledge and skill. We did the morning "elephant wonders" experience which included an introduction to the 3 female elephants, an amazing trek through the jungle (not a ride!) with the elephants (we were just along for the walk as they did their daily walk) then a chance to watch them bathing in the Mekong. This was a once in a lifetime experience that I would highly recommend. The park opens to the general public at 11am but was still pretty quiet on the day we were there as I guess not many people stay 2 nights in Pakbeng - more fool them. Once open there are additional activities and we ended up spending the entire day at the park (8 to 4) including a delicious lunch. In order to do this you have to spend the extra day in Pakbeng if you are on the way to Luang Prabang or the Thai border. It is well worth doing this as it is a nice small town on a particularly scenic bend in the river (great sunsets and sunrises). We stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge which is associated with the elephant park and is just across the river. There is a boat that takes you across and back. The lodge is also a lovely place to stay and has fantastic views across to the park so you get elephant trumpeting in addition to the usual roosters in the morning. We added this on to a week in Luang Prabang and the Sanctuary Lodge actually arranged everything including the slow boat (with Shompoo Cruises - also recommended) and the elephant park experience all booked together. This was super easy and just a few emails to confirm details. All in all, a fantastic experience with people who really care about what they are doing and seem delighted to share it with others.
3. Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 108 reviews
The Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park is the largest protected area in Laos! The NEPL National Park is unique in it's rich wildlife biodiversity supporting a wide range of species, including six wild cat species, critically endangered Northern White Cheeked Gibbons, two bear species, and many more. Wildlife Ecotourism has been developed to provide additional livelihood opportunities for local people and the activities have been designed to create a direct link between conservation and tourism whereby the income generated by visitors acts as an incentive for local people to support the protection of wildlife. The NGO Wildlife Conservation Society provides technical support to the National Park Management Unit since 2013.
Reviewed By Y625CHwilliamf
A fabulous trip that was exactly as advertised. On arriving in Ban Son Koua we were met by guide Touy who explained the purpose of the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area the various species of birds and animals we might see and the trip up river to the overnight camp in long tail boats. Being the end of the dry season, the river was low and the boats hit bottom many times going up the rapids .The boatmen were excellent and soon had us moving again. They made lunch for us and late afternoon we headed up river again for an hour to the dinner camp where the boatmen again cooked a delicious local meal. We sat round a camp fire as the sun went down and the guides and boatmen introduced themselves and told us a little about their lives and we in turn did the same, Once fully dark we set off drifting down river with the boatmen using powerful torches to seek out the animals in the surrounding jungle. Many animal eyes were found and we were encouraged to use our torches to put more light on the eyes. Many were found and the boatmen explained what we had seen back at the overnight camp. They were excellent. A good nights sleep in comfortable bungalows was followed by a talk on the history of the area and a walk through the remains of an old village and then breakfast. The trip back to Ban Son Koua was was alot of fun and many birds sighted and people going about their daily lives along the river bank. This is a trip that should be put on the must do list for any Laos holiday.
4. Green Jungle Park@Hoi Khua Waterfall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 80 reviews
Nature and park. Garden with more than 1,500 species of flower. Buffalo and a pair of ostrich are onsite and guests can feed them. Picnic huts are provided for groups or family. Adventure activities include zip lining, trekking and multiple rope courses. Accommodation in Luxury Camp@Green Jungle Park is open for booking. Perfect for company or school team building program.
Reviewed By globetrottinggran
A great way to spend a day with lots of walkways, play areas for children, refreshment stops, a lovely flower garden and a “go ape” for the adrenalin junkies.
5. MandaLao Elephant Conservation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 498 reviews
We are Luang Prabang's first and only non-riding elephant experience. Please join us for an unforgettable trip that will not only benefit the well being of our elephants but be a highlight to any Southeast Asian adventure.
Reviewed By SophieB179 - Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Sorry to be a bit eco Nazi about things but if you want to ride elephants or have animals take part in your tourism experience in any way - change your mind set. Mandalao are leading the way in Laos in showing that this is how tourism must become. I have read reviews saying but the elephants aren’t free, it’s still cruel. You know what, yes it is that anything has to be kept safely away from humans who want to exploit them in logging industries or other areas. These elephants are kept safe though and that my friends, is a start. For them to be free in the world in 2019 is a death sentence. Rant over. You are taken to the centre from your hotel and met by the owner who gives you a very informative talk about the site and elephant conservation in general. Then you are given bowls of food to make balls of to give the elephants, it’s things like baby banana, sticky rice and tamarind and lots of sea salt. You make the balls then go over on a boat and meet your elephants and mahouts. The elephants eat from your hands and then accompany you on a stroll through the jungle. They stop and mooch around, ours demolished a tree whilst we were there, showing off their strength as they reached for their favourite leaves higher up in the trees. We hugged their trunks and had photos, could touch them and stand with them, sense their individual personalities and get a real sense of the power these animals hold. They are very calm to be around and I was certainly filled with awe from beginning to end. The mahouts are local men employed by the centre. They do not whip or hurt the elephants at all, but they do have a stick of bamboo with them that they gently guide them with. They know people do not want to see cruelty and I was super alert for it but saw absolutely none, the men were to be commended. But to go back to my original point, compared to the life the elephants had before on logging plantations where they were poorly fed, overworked and abused to the life they have now, seeing a man with a stick to guide an elephant to walk with humans is a lot less harsh to accept then the alternative. I have no qualms in saying these elephants were happy, well fed and looked after, and safe. If you are an eco or ethically minded tourist this place is for you. If you’re not - become one! ????
6. Vang Vieng Elephant Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 201 reviews
Reviewed By yatsoony - Acton, United Kingdom
This was a great activity to do with our young kids aged 9 and 7. We were picked up at our hotel in Vang Vieng for a scenic 45 minute drive to get to the sanctuary. When we arrived we had an interesting, informative and entertaining introductory talk by the owner of the sanctuary. This gave a background to the culture, history and threats to elephants in Laos, as well as what he is trying to achieve at the sanctuary. A fairly easy trek (waterproof shoes provided) through a beautiful landscape took us to the elephants’ natural habitat. We were able to feed the elephants with bananas and then bathe them in a nearby river. We then trekked back to the sanctuary buildings with elephants, during which we saw them having a mud bath. Back at the sanctuary buildings we fed them some more and were in turn fed a delicious Lao lunch. It was an amazing privilege to be at such close quarters with these gentle, curious and majestic animals. There are four elephants currently at the sanctuary. Groups of visitors (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) are limited in numbers so as to maintain a good visitor-elephant ratio. I can thoroughly recommend this activity as an inspirational way to spend half a day!
7. The Gibbon Experience
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 907 reviews
Reviewed By SvenHakan - Uppsala, Sweden
Yes, the Gibbon experience was really great. We were lucky to see gibbons and also hear them sing, but of course not all are that lucky. But the treehouse, ziplines and trekking would have been great enough. It was all very good organized. We did the Classic tour with two nights in the treehouse and of course you come close to your group, we were six in our house (#4, 42 m above the ground)) and we said we had the "best group in the best treehouse". When we met the other groups they said the same :-), so I suppose most groups work out well. This really was an extraordinary experience!
8. Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 985 reviews
Welcome to the Kuang si Falls ButterflyPark Just 300 meters before parking Kuang si Falls Hundreds of Laotian butterflies in a beautiful landscaped garden, natural fish spa included.
Reviewed By seulgison - Munich, Germany
We were surprised that there weren't many visitors when we visited, because this place was seriously great! They give you a booklet that will outline the tour of the butterfly sanctuary, which will take you around the falls and into the butterfly house, to the natural fish spa (there are seats for you to sit and experience this!) and a cute cafe at the end of the tour. We suggest getting the coffee + cake bundle at the beginning when you buy your ticket because they were both so good. There are also seats at the cafe where you can sit down and dip your feet in another pool. You can also feed the fish there too because there was a bowl full of fish food, which was fun to throw and watch. We really enjoyed our time at the butterfly sanctuary!!
9. Vientiane Orchidees
10. Nahm Dong Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 84 reviews
Nahm Dong is an 18 hectares park of plants, lush forest, beautiful gardens and rushing waters. There is picnic areas and huts in flowers garden or orchards. You can do hiking, swimming in the waterfalls, zip-lining and many other activities such as making your own mulberry paper, lao cuisine discovery and honey making.
Reviewed By eliorasa
We visited Nahm Dong Park while staying at the nearby Hillside Nature Lodge. We purchased a multi-pass and chose to do the zipline, mulberry paper and Hmong embroidery activities. As first time zipliners, we had a great time whizzing through the forest and enjoying the view from above. The guides were wonderful in ensuring our safety and well-being and the equipment provided was sturdy and well-maintained. Mulberry paper making was brief yet relaxing as we designed our own paper while enjoying the stunning views of the village in the valley below. Hmong embroidery was lovely with 2 local ladies who gently guided us as we completed a pattern using a cross-stitch method. Food at Nahm Dong was also fantastic, with the restaurant set beside the water. The park is well-kept and the surroundings are just beautiful. We only wish we had more time to explore the villages within the park as well. Definitely recommend checking out Nahm Dong Park if you are keen on outdoor activities in Luang Prabang.
